OK, there’s a pattern forming here. It was another slow start and about 10:30 we ate yesterday’s flapjacks. We then loaded the bikes onto the car and set out south to Great Torrington. We parked in the Tarka Trail carpark next to The Puffing Billy and then headed south towards East Yarde where we knew there was a cafe.

Heading south was also heading uphill. At Puffing Billy we were at 23m altitude and we climbed to 130m over the next 6.5km. The last 0.7km was downhill to 128.5m at East Yarde. It was harder work than any of us expected. We stopped for bacon sandwiches and cake at the Yarde Orchard cafe and then made our way back. The first climb was a bit of a shock to the body, but it was soon over and the downhill stretch was much easier. Outward took nearly two hours and the return was about 40 minutes.
We went out to find somewhere to eat this evening. We headed out to Instow as we thought there was somewhere there. We did find one, but it was closed on Sunday evenings. So we took a chance and headed for Newton Tracey. We found The Hunters Inn, which had a large easily accessible carpark.
They were able to find a table for us and we all had great meals. I had belly of pork and followed it with the banana and chocolate chip sponge. Jo and P had the goat cheese and caramelised onion tart followed by sticky toffee sponge and panacotta respectively. A had the ham, egg and chips followed by chocolate ice cream. The food and service were great and we’d go there again.